WEST Oxfordshire was covered in a blanket of snow that thrilled youngsters but frustrated commuters.

The district was hit by inches of the white stuff overnight between Saturday and Sunday and freezing conditions meant it lay on the ground well into the week.

While many people took the opportunity to head into the snow and build snowmen, race down hills on toboggans and stage snowball fights, there was misery for anyone trying to travel.

There was severe disruption on the A40 on Sunday, while many bus services were cancelled, although the vast majority were back to normal on Monday.

Visitor attractions across the district were forced to close their doors as a result of the deluge, with Blenheim Palace and Hook Norton Brewery both shut.

Both had reopened by Monday, although the formal gardens at the palace in Woodstock were still closed.

Many pupils were delighted as dozens of schools shut their doors on Monday, with a smaller number also closed today.

The Henry Box School in Witney was shut on both days, along with Chipping Norton School, Burford School and Burford Primary School, amongst others.

Wood Green School closed on Monday but opened again on Tuesday.

The Henry Box School said in a statement: "The decision is based on a number of factors which include the safety of students and staff either on their way to school or on the school site.

"Weather conditions overnight have suggested that conditions will not improve during today, and we have a real concern that the roads and paths will be too dangerous for us all.

"We did all we could to enable the school to open today, but a combination of extreme weather overnight, bus companies who cannot guarantee travel, and a deep concern for the safety of staff and students has led us to make this decision."

Oxfordshire County Council's full fleet of 25 gritters swung into action to try and keep the roads open, with snowploughs attached.

It is estimated the team covered more than 6,000 miles of A, B and C roads and dropped more than 1,200 tonnes of grit in Oxfordshire between 3am on Sunday morning and Monday afternoon.

Speaking on Monday, the council's winter operations manager, said: "The aim remains keeping our main road network clear.

"Fixing the snowploughs to the gritters is not something that we have to do very often in Oxfordshire and we can often go a full winter without it needing to happen.

"Gritting and snowploughing helps keep the main roads clear, but it doesn't turn December into July."

The Met Office forecast higher temperatures during last night and today that should see the snow thaw, with higher temperatures of about 5-6C predicted in Witney for the rest of the week.